Arab League monitors

My latest post for Al-Akhbar English.

Zionism is racism, always

"The Israeli “satire” show Latma TV produces an animated cartoon that depicts African people as apes.  Latma TV – a tax-exempt project of the US-based Center for Security Policy – has become notorious for its racist videos, including one which spread a libel that Muslim men were responsible for a “rape epidemic” in Norway.  The main character of the Latma TV cartoons is a baboon called “Professor Na’or Lobongelo” who is described as a “lecturer in political science at the University of Tel-Zanav, a small corner of light and intelligence in the jungle that surrounds us.”  He gives lectures to other dancing, screaming apes. In the episode above, he describes himself and his audience as “enlightened baboons” as he caricatures the position of Israeli liberals who oppose the deportation of non-Jewish children, born to migrants, many from Africa." (thanks Electronic Ali)

The people want economic uprisings

"For this reason, the coming period is extremely sensitive in countries that experienced revolutions. Today, working class and poor people in Tunis and Egypt find themselves for the first time confronting Muslim Brotherhood governments, draped in the cloth of revolutionary legitimacy. Yet, these governments are, to some extent, products of the dominant classes and fully represent their interests. It may be more difficult now for workers to fight for their rights than when the “Muslim Brothers” were among the opposition. However, they will be spared the mirage of a “religious solution” as they watch the Islamists attempt to distract them with proclamations to uphold their “identity.” They will in fact be trying to divert workers’ attention from the “public interest” that Islamist claims to defend. In reality, these are the “interests of the rich” – those with or without beards."

Sample of Scottish Accent

Of course, people are invited to mock my Arabic accent.  I like the Scottish accent but it is not easy to decipher.  Today, I had to ask a comrade to repeat his sentence three times to understand that he was saying "birthday" but it was pronounced Barthdaaay.

The lies of Saudi media

Have people noticed how the lousy site of the lousy news station of King Fahd's brother-in-law is getting worse and worse? They have been regularly inventing stories and posting lies and fabrications as news.  Look at this story about Egyptian writer, Muhammad Hasanyn Haykal:  the headline says that "Haykal is accused of trickery and plagiarism", but when you read the article there is no evidence of that whatsoever.  The story merely reports two reviews of his new book and neither had any serious charge of plagiarism or trickery.  House of Saud has not gotten over their humiliation at the hands of Nasser.  If only he lived longer (and if only he was not defeated in 1967): if only, if only, if only, if only etc.  

University of Leeds

For the first time on my tour, the University of Leeds was scared of my presence on campus.  Security was put on alert, and guards with special vests were assigned around the building into the entrance to the hall.  I, of course, expressed surprised.  I explained that the "Angry Arab" title was intended ironically--especially that British people accuse Americans of not having an appetite for irony.  I had to reassure people that I am not unnice.  I was told that University of Leeds has the biggest Zionist presence of any other British campus, so that could be the reason.  There was one disruptive Zionist in the audience but I am a big boy.  

Anthony Shadid on Abu Dhabi

I am on a train to Leeds so I can't provide link. But Shadid wrote in his article on Abu Dhabi in the Times: "Taken together, they suggest that the region’s cultural axis could decisively shift from the capitals of Arab antiquity — Cairo, Baghdad and Damascus, Syria — to the improbable capitals of the arid Persian Gulf.". Are u serious? Are u not woefully overstating your case here?

Palestinian home demolitions

"The Abu Omar and Shawamreh families’ land is situated in the Occupied West Bank town of Anata, in what is known as “Area C”, meaning it is under complete Israeli military control. Palestinians are almost never granted building permits by the Israeli authorities, and therefore are forced to build or expand their homes “illegally”. This is the most common reason given by the Israeli authorities for house demolitions. However, as an occupying force, Israel doesn’t have the legal right to grant nor deny permits as it is not entitled under International Law to conduct civil planning." (thanks Reem)

Who is dumb?

The Jordanian potentate is regularly asked in the Western media to pontificate about the "Arab spring". Who is dumber in this equation? The potentate who is facing growing protests against his rule or the Western media who regard him as if he is a freely elected ruler?

Obama on Israel

"Our iron-clad commitment to Israel’s security has meant the closest military cooperation between our two countries in history." (thanks Nikolai)

There are two non-democracies in the Middle East, only

Read the full text of Obama's speech.  What do you conclude: that there are only two regimes, Syria and Iran, which are not democracies. Those who wrote the speech really leave the impression that the rest of the regimes (US clients) are full fledgling democracies.  

What is the life of 24 Iraqis worth in a US court?

"Marine Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich will not serve a jail sentence following his guilty plea in the killing of 24 Iraqis in 2005, a military judge said Tuesday."

Somebody needs to tell Amnesty International that colonial times are behind us--at least in name

This is colonial feminism.  Amnesty International has asked--look at their audacity--Egyptian political parties to sign a political declaration on women's right.  Now my views on this are known, but what business does Amnesty have and who do they think they are?  Would Amnesty dare ask, say, the Republican Party in the US to sign a political document to commit to women's right? Not in a million years.  "Most of the biggest Egyptian political parties have committed to delivering ambitious human right reform in the country’s transition, but have either given mixed signals or have flatly refused to sign up to ending discrimination, protecting women’s rights and to abolishing the death penalty, Amnesty International said today. Ahead of parliamentary elections which began in November, Amnesty asked political parties running in Egypt’s elections to sign a “human rights manifesto” containing ten key measures to signal that they were serious about delivering meaningful human rights reform."

New Rulers

The "new" rulers in Arab countries are worried about protests--just like the old rulers. Even the Tunisian president, Munsif Al-Marzuqi, spoke against protesters and strikes and "the far left".  In Egypt, the Egyptian military ruler said that he ends the state of emergency except in those cases that the council thinks they should apply to them.  Mustafa Abdul-NATO keeps warning against protests in Libya.  Arab Uprisings are far from being concluded: they have just begun.  

W.M. Watt Collection at the University of Edinburgh

So after trying to complete the forms necessary for obtaining permission to check the private collection of W.M. Watt at the University of Edinburgh, I was able to secure the necessary permission.  My host escorted me to the library where we were allowed to go through the various doors and barriers.  We then asked the reference librarian to guide us to the collection.  We were then told that they are not available because they are in the process of being moved from one place to another and that a special hard hat would be required to go there, but that it requires an advance notice.

Having said that, I really really enjoyed the crowd of students at University of Edinburgh.  I really liked the chemistry of the students there.  They were most informed and most engaged.  I had fun.  And the Edinburgh Castle is a must see--I really don't like to say "must see" and this may be the first time I ever use that term.

Who is covering Libya?

Where is Libya in Western media coverage? Who will report the nightly clashes between the NATO war militias? Who has reported on the demonstration at the main university against the deputy to Mustafa Abdul-NATO who was forced to resign? The students there remember him as an advocate of the Qadhdhafi regime and they bravely insisted on his removal.  Abdul-NATO is now scared for his own safety but he does not answer to himself: he answers to those powers that put him in place.  

Arab League plan for Syria

The situation has officially become crazy.  GCC plans for change in Arab countries guarantee that popular demands of the opposition are not met.  How could Haytham Al-Manna` who I respect support such a plan when it basically preserves the regime and merely removes Bashshar?  The Ba`thist regime would basically stay in power.  GCC countries and those powers behind them just want to bring in a more dependable potentate.  GCC AND US aborted the Yemen uprising--which was one of the most courageous and daring movement in the region.  Let us hear people say it again: they want the overthrow of the regime, and not some half measures or some games that people with foreign agendas want to play at the expense of people's aspirations.  Remember that US plan for Iraq was originally for one of Saddam's colleagues to take over power.  They prefer in all cases to keep the regimes in power.  But for any Syrian opposition group to agree to such a plan is merely another proof that they can't claim to represent the Syrian people: they are no more than tools of GCC.

Arab monitors' report

Has the New York Times reported on the findings of the Arab League monitors' report? Because the Arab (Saudi and Qatari) report on the criticisms of the report and less on the report itself, which has not been published in full, I am told. I am asking because I have been traveling in trains across UK.  

The comedy thickens

"The past year has seen people take to the streets across the Middle East and North Africa to demand an end to tyranny and oppression and as a result, unprecedented regime change has taken place across the region.  Less known is the extent to which the protesters were influenced by the 83-year-old political scientist, Dr Gene Sharp. His book From Dictatorship to Democracy has previously been utilised as a blueprint by democratic movements from Serbia, to the Ukraine, Guatemala to Indonesia, in their fight to overthrow oppressive regimes "  How dumb do you have to be to really believe that Gene Sharp actually inspired the Arab uprisings? The answer: very dumb indeed. (thanks Nir)


PS Nir has also been inspired by Gene Sharp in his personal revolts.  

Hamah massacre: 30 years later

A reader sent me this:  "I see on facebook that many Syrian are ready to commemorate the memory of the hama massacre after 30 years ... I wonder why they forget to commemorate the 29 previous anniversaries."

T E Lawrence

A Syrian comrade sent me this: "About the most contemptible character in my youth was T. E. Lawrence, and time did not mellow my dislike of this 'clever dick' even after I learnt that he really was psychologically very disturbed from a thoroughly researched book published by Philip Knightly and a colleague I cannot remember his name. I believe both were on the staff of the Sunday Times, when reading the Sunday Times was not self immolation for the sake of the Murdoch!    Recently, I cam across a book by صبحي العمري. This Iraqi person joined the Arab revolt in its early phases. He was even mistaken in the UK press for being Lawrence - and of course, Lawrence did not oblige with a correction! Later in life he did sell his sole, and was sentenced by the Syrian Military Tribunal in the famous Stone Plot - for a long prison sentence. I am not sure he served all of it, or any of it.  He wrote a book about this Lawrence character. If you are so inclined, I would be happy to email it. I have it on my home machine and I am at work at the moment.  Lawrence was a relative of G B Shaw - probably through his mother. He made quite an entry in the literary salons with his Seven Pillars. But the book made him really quite famous in England when its Empire began giving way to the richer and more powerful US.  The book was received in exactly this sense, and its literary value was a validating 'bonus' - just as that by Winston Churchill about his exploits in the Boer War which catapulted him into the political limelight for the next half a century."

Meet the new Egyptian MPs

This picture is circulating widely among Arabs.  (Reuters)

PS I refuse to concede that the fat cats of the corrupt Mubarak regime looked any better in parliament.  At least those have better legitimate credentials than the Mubarak MPs. 

Less than 3 months for killing 24 unarmed Iraqis

"Prosecutors and defense attorneys in the court-martial of Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, accused in the killing of 24 unarmed Iraqis in 2005, announced an agreement Monday to settle the case. Wuterich will plead guilty to a single count of negligent dereliction of duty. Other charges were dropped. No announcement was made on what kind of discharge Wuterich would receive. The maximum sentence is three months in the brig. That decision will be made by the judge."

Mubarak: the anti-Semite (like all Arab friends of Israel)

This is the fifth part of the serialized book by Muhammad Hasanayn Haykal on Husni Mubarak.  It has the best insights about the dumb personality of the man.  In this part, Mubarak explains his views of Israel and Jews and says that he is compelled to have relations with Israel because "the Jews run the entire world."  This should not be surprising: I have pointed out before that almost all of the few Arab friends of Israel are anti-Semites.  Anwar Sadat was an unrepentant Nazi anti-Semite.  But Zionists never really care about anti-Semitism from friends of Israel.  Their standards on the subject are purely political.  They disregard anti-Semitism of supporters of friends of Israel, and they falsely attribute anti-Semitism to opponents of the state of Israel.

The Case Against Israel

Here is a video of my talk at Oxford University.

Syrian Council: cheering the Saudi king

Syrian National Council thanks Saudi government and tells Saudi foreign minister that its masses are chanting for the Saudi King in Syria.  And you want me to support those clowns in the council? Are you kidding me?  Those are to revolution what Sa`d Hariri is to science (or to social science) or what House of Saud are to feminism or what Walid Jumblat is to principles--any principles.  

Freedom of Speech: US versus UK

My latest blog post for Al-Akhbar English.

Seven Pillars of Wisdom

I do recommend reading that book. It is so well--written.  I reread it on the plane to UK: I read it mostly for its literary quality.  The man is often racist but with a flare: he insults but in such a flowery language.  

A Syrian with a Scottish accent

After my talk at the University of Glasgow, a Syrian student asked me a question about Syria.  After he was finished, I had to say this:  Are you from Syria, I asked? He said: yes.  I said: I have to admit that I was distracted a bit during your question (which I will answer), but I am very amused to hear an Arab speak with a thick Scottish accent.  I told him that this should be on Youtube.

Scottish nationalism

There is a special feel and flavor in Scotland.  You feel it.  It made me more understanding of nationalism here.

PS Beware. Scottish version of the UK currency may not be accepted in some places in London.

That famous breaded and fried Mars bar in Scotland

To be fair to the people in Scotland, frying a breaded Mars bar is no more fashionable but they are willing to do one for tourists.

L'Orient-Le Jour on the poor torturer-war criminal

""Interrogé récemment le visage flouté par la deuxième chaîne de télévision, "Captain George" avait nié avoir torturé Moustapha Dirani et affirmé qu'il avait toujours agi en obéissant aux ordres de ses supérieurs. "Mes supérieurs m'ont abandonné, je suis traité comme un bouc émissaire et depuis que je ne suis plus dans l'armée, je n'ai pas réussi à trouver du travail", a-t-il affirmé pour justifier sa demande de dommages et intérêts auprès de l'armée et du ministère de la Défense"" (thanks "Ibn Rushd")

UK university bureaucracy

So I asked my hosts at University of Edinburgh to allow me to visit the private collection and papers of W. M. Watt, whose writings on Islam have been part of my education over the years even when I disagreed with them (I wrote very unfavorably about one of his last hostile works "Islamic Fundamentalism and Modernity").  So my host wrote me back that he would be able to get me a guest pass but then wrote me this (I asked his permission to quote in full and he agreed  and was amused):
"So we've got word back from the library and you may have to deal with more of that famous British bureaucracy. They're asking that you have a passport/driving license, a passport sized photo (which I suppose we could get from a shop or stall in the city if you like) and 'proof of address', such as a bank statement, utility bill, or letter of invitation from a University department.  That last one is probably something you don't have on you, so I'll see if I can get my department to write you up one today. Could you send on your (permanent) address so we could put it on the top of the letter? Apologies for all this, just seems to be the way they go about things.

Hope to hear from you,"

Arab media

So the Sudanese head of the Arab League monitoring team made comments to the press about his mission: you go to the Arab (Saudi and Qatari) media and you fond attacks on him but you won't find what he said.  These are the rules of the dynastic media of the Arab potentates.

Bathing in Medieval England

Read about it in The Time's Traveller's Guide to Medieval England.  

Haykal on Mubarak

I strongly recommend that you read the serials from the new book by Muhammad Hasanyn Haykal on Husni Mubarak.  They really shed new light on his rise in the Sadat era and his method of operation.  They are being serialized in As-Safir and Ash-Shuruq.  

Syrian National Council

Syrian National Council has taken a historic decision.  It said that it won't only ask for Arab League intervention followed by UN Security Council intervention.  It said that it has now called on military forces from other planets to participate in a universal military intervention in Syria.  All eyes are on Mars now.  

Tantawi kissing Mubarak

(thanks "Ibn Rushd")

From Beirut to Jerusalem

This is pre-1967.  (thanks Farah)

From an American student of Arabic

She sent me this but she does not want to be identified:  "I am a frequent reader of your website and often agree with your posts. I especially commend your coverage of Palestine and the Zionist occupation.  However, I did not enjoy reading your post about European students of Arabic 'faring so much better than American counterparts.'  I also went to Georgetown and just graduated last May. I think Georgetown produces the best undergraduate students in Arabic in America, at least given the success of our students in study abroad programs in the Middle East (Georgetown is disproportionately represented in study-abroad locales like Jordan and Egypt). I am currently working in X and my Arabic far exceeds the other internationals I work with (many of whom studied at SOAS and other European institutions).  My Palestinian friends and coworkers are often surprised that I can speak/read/write, because most internationals here claim they 'know' arabic and then cannot string a sentence together in 3aamya. I am not fluent, but it is feasible that within a year or two, I will attain fluency. And I owe much of my knowledge to the strong basis in grammar I received as an undergraduate at Georgetown.   

Basically, I wish to point out that yes, you may have met several Americans who suck at Arabic, but I assure you that there are Americans who are more than capable of speaking and writing fluently in Fus7a and various Arabic dialects. I guess your post also struck a nerve since so many of the British/French/Australians here are quick to malign American education and Americans abroad in general, of course adding the addendum "You are not the typical American, Michelle." Of course these are the same foreigners who are unable to integrate into their host societies and end up not making any effort to improve their minimal Arabic skills. 

When it comes down to it, I think language acquisition and mastery depends on each individual's skills and personal motivation." 

PS (now Angry Arab speaking here)  I, of course, fully agree with the last sentence.  Of course, I never intended to generalize about all Americans.  Some of those Americans whose Arabic is excellent (or those whose Arabic is not excellent) are friends of mine.  But I was making a generalization based on my impression.  I received many responses to this post I wrote.  One person also made a good point about the tendency of American universities to send their students to Cairo--instead of Yemen or Syria, for example--where people tend to converse in English mostly.  Another colleague at Oxford also commented that British and European universities tend to send the students as undergraduates to the Middle East to practice the language, unlike in US universities where travel happen in graduate years.  

They want Shari`ah

NATO Bin Ladenite rebels want Shari`ah in Libya.  When asked about their inspiration, they still insisted that it was Gene Sharp.  

Haytham Al-Manna`

The courageous Syrian dissident, Haytham Al-Manna` (whose leftist brother, Husayn `Uwaydat, was shot in his mouth by goons of the Syrian regime early on because they go after the capable leftist leaders first) gives an interview (the link to its origin has expired) and he categorically rejects foreign intervention. (thanks Blanche)

Amal Movement

The worst ministers in Lebanese history are those of the Amal Movement.  I mean, if you pick ministers by lottery, chances are they will be superior to those of the Amal movement.  Yesterday in the Arab League meeting, Saudi foreign minister mocked the Lebanese government stance while the Amal foreign minister smiled stupidly.  

Bashshar

What annoys the hell out of me is that Bashshar still acts like his relationship with Saudi Arabia is more than excellent.  His propagandists in Lebanon and Syria even absolves Saudi Arabia from any responsibility in what is happening in Syria: they only blame Qatar.  I dont think it is entirely foolishness and ignorance: there is plenty of that, but Bashshar still hopes for a deal under the table with the Saudi regime.  

Friday of the Declaration of Jihad

Al-Quds Al-Arabis (the Qatari-funded newspaper which is fiercely opposed to the Syrian regime) reports that there is a debate about the name of the next Friday of protests in Syria: Salafites want to name it the Friday of the Declaration of Jihad and the March 14 liberals of Syria disagree.  I remember only few months ago when people of the March 14 stripes and their supporters in the West were arguing with me whether 1) there are armed groups in Syria; 2) whether the fundamentalists are dominant or even present in the uprising.  I remember that some were arguing with me that the entire uprising is the work of feminists and secularists.